Match Day Thread Sunderland v Northampton – Sunday 9th May 2021 - KO 12:00

Really tough play off to call this. All have gone on brilliant and poor runs. Let’s see which team turns up for the “cup”. Please let it be us

 

Same. Wyke has scored lots of goals this season, but Ill be honest I think most of them have been put on a plate by McGeady or Gooch/Jones. There aren't many where I've thought "wow, that was a good finish". Also, his current form (3 in 12) is closer to his "normal" levels.

He won't score 5 goals in The Championship

 

Defensively we are very shaky, our midfield is one paced and lack creativity and our front line are far too inconsistent. Wyke appears to have returned to his usual form (3 goals in 12) and Stewart is injured. Today, we had Wyke, Gooch, McGeady, Jones and Maguire all on the pitch and looked completely toothless. I just don't see where the goals are coming from. I think we will edge past Lincoln, but Oxford/Blackpool's form is far superior to ours

 

Problem is, we are right in the middle of our blip, the other teams are all on good form.

 

Agree we’re going in out of form. Sanderson seems to have been a huge blow. And then Willis too. Those two at the back and we’d have been a different proposition. At it stands we look shaky in defence, poor in central midfield and powder puff up top.

Still reckon we can do it mind

 

I think any team losing 5 centre halves for long periods of time would struggle eventually. We've been desperately unlucky with injuries, but this end of season implosion is getting all too familiar, I have zero confidence for the play offs

 

If I’m being honest with myself I don’t think we will do it, but we “could”. Cup competition now. We’ve hammered Lincoln away, beat Oxford fairly recently, and Blackpool are due a tonking

 

This is abit of a freak season for him in terms of goals scored.
Hes 28 now and the most he has scored previously is 13 when we signed him from Bradford a few years ago.

 

When people tell me that I am harsh on a player who has scored 30 goals this season I tell them he has scored one goal 30 times. It sounds silly but his goals are all the same one touch finishes after others have done the spade work, his actual footballing contribution is zero if not worse, in my opinion he is a burden the other forwards have to carry and its taking its toll. Stewart who still has a way to go imo., was a breath of fresh air, and a glimpse of the team we could be without that lump up front, nice lad though he is.

 

Can’t see us beating Lincoln in the slightest. We have crumbled at the wrong time and it will show in the play offs imo. Blackpool will win it.

 

Lincoln are in ****e form as well. No favourite in this tie.

 

I'd have been more suprised if you had posted something vaguely positive

 

McGeady looked lively ??? I thought he came on but then I wasn’t sure such was his lack of involvement- when he was involved he kept giving the ball away . The sooner he is chained to the left touch line the better where he is most effective, the free role does not suit him as I have said on earlier threads , he is the out ball and is easy to find when we know where he is . Let’s hope we have got our dreadful performances out of our system if we are going to achieve our Promotion Dream .

 

Just had a look at Oxford's results over the season. They started badly, then put a great run together to be on the verge of the play offs before falling away. During this run, they didn't play any of the top 8 teams. Recently their form has picked up again, but mostly against lower half teams.

The only top six team they beat all season was Lincoln at home at the end of March. We've beaten them twice and taken 4 points off Lincoln. For me, Blackpool are the team to be wary of, but weren't any great shakes in either of their games against us. Nothing for us to fear....... apart from ourselves!

 

Absolutely spot on
If we turn up we are the best team in this league. I honestly believe that
Its been our games against the bottom teams that have done for us. We seem to be able to raise our game against the better teams
Blackpool seem to be everyone's favorites beat us twice recently they were decent but nothing special. We were the better team in both games and should have won. Nothing to fear from any of the play off teams
If we can keep our finger off the self destruct button we will be OK

 

Yeah - agree with that - especially the last bit.

Lincoln are in similar form to us but Oxford and Blackpool have both won 4 out of their last 5. If we get past Lincoln I would prefer to play Oxford. The players - especially Max Power would be up for that

 

Tend to agree. Oxford will have a right go a us but will leave themselves open. Blackpool however have a good defence which we struggled to break down.
Saying that if we get past Lincoln I think we will beat anyone at Wembley

 

My biggest worry is that this is the same fans who thought we were going to get 4 5 or 6 against Northampton.

 

I agree completely

 

Is of course correct, Plymouth are the worst team in the league on current form, we only beat them cos they went down to 10 men
People got excited cos we beat Plymoutn, crackers, they thought we would wallop Northampton, over optimism